Ultrasonic dental hand-piece with detachable treatment tools

ABSTRACT

A dental hand-piece including an electronic ultrasonic transducer energized by a cable connecting an electronic ultrasonic generator including a coupling device for energizing interchangeable treatment tools retained in the hand-piece. Each of the tools and coupling device having a bore therein for conducting pressurized water from said hand-piece for supplying water to the area of the tooth contacted by the tip portion of the tool and including a pair of typical tools for tooth treatment.

United States Patent Robinson [54] ULTRASONIC DENTAL HAND-PIECE WITHDETACHABLE TREATMENT TOOLS [72] Inventor: Seymour Robinson, 1561 NE.

' 179th Street, Miami, Fla. 33160 [22] Filed: June 25, 1970 [2]] Appl.No.: 49,642

[52] US. Cl ........32/58, 32/DlG. 4 [51] Int. Cl ..A6lc 3/06 [58] Fieldof Search .32/58, 50, DIG. 4; 310/26 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,488,851 1/1970 Haydu ..32/58 3,368,280 2/1968 Freidman ..32/58[451 Nov. 21, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,148,858 12/1957France ..32/58 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock AttorneyLloyd J. Andres[5 7] ABSTRACT A dental hand-piece including an electronic ultrasonictransducer energized by a cable connecting an electronic ultrasonicgenerator including a coupling device for energizing interchangeabletreatment tools retained in the hand-piece. Each of the tools andcoupling device having a bore therein for conducting pressurized waterfrom said hand-piece for supplying water to the area of the toothcontacted by the tip portion of the tool and including a pair of typicaltools for tooth treatment.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED W21 1912 SHEEI 1 [1F 2 I "Inn-"9INVENTOR. SEYMOUR ROBINSON ULTRASONIC DENTAL HAND-PIECE WITH DETACHABLETREATMENT TOOLS This invention relates in general to dental treatmentapparatus and more particularly to an ultrasonic handpiece provided forinterchangeable treatment tools having a variety of tips for toothcleaning and treatment. Each of said tools having a bore therethroughfor conducting pressurized water supplied by the handpiece to the tooland directed thereby to the area .of treatment of each tooth.

Prior dental cleaning and treatment tools for hand operation required ahigh degree of skill and care when used by the dentist or hygienist.Furthermore, prior .ultrasonic devices do not provide forinterchangeable tools having different tips for the many purposesrequired and were not detachably coupled to a handpiece withoutexcessive loss of ultrasonic energy.

These prior tools had no built-in means for supplying flushing waterdirectly to the treatment areas.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantagesby'the provision of a handpiece in which a detachable coupling means isprovided in the hand-piece for engaging interchangeable tools havingdifferent treatment tips without serious energy loss of ultrasonicenergy from the transducer, including the provision of a water passagethrough the tool for providing treatment in the presence of a watersupply directed at the area treated. 7

Reference is had to applicants pending patent application, entitledUltrasonic Tooth Cleaning Apparatus, Ser. No. 7,607. I

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of theinvention are described and shown in the following specification anddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an ultrasonic hand-piece andenergizing unit therefor.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional side elevation taken throughsection line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a coupling for detachably securing a tool in the hand-pieceshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coupling and tool disengaged fromthe hand-piece shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an alternate form of coupling for detachably securing a toolin the hand-piece.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top view of a right hand treatment tool of thecharacter shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the tool shown in FIG. 6. v

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of a left hand treatment tool of thecharacter shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the tool shown in FIG. 8. v

Referring to FIG. 1, an ultrasonic hand-piece assembly l is connected toan electronic ultrasonic generator assembly 2 by a flexible tube 3 whichis adapted to conduct water and includes a pair of electric ultrasonicoutput conductors 4 and 5, which tube and conductors are removablysecured to the unit assembly 2 by a dual coupling 6.

The ultrasonic generator includes a power cord 7 with a plug 8 forattachment to a source of electric energy and a tub 9 adapted to beconnected to a source of controlled pressurized water. The generatoralso includes an on-off switch 10, an ultrasonic intensity control 11,an on-off signal light 12 and water flow indicator 13.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hand-piece consists of a plastic molded bodymember 14 and a plastic heel piece 15, secured together by well knownmeans, which serves as an inlet junction for the conductors 4 and 5 andthe tubing 3. A tubular ceramic ultrasonic transducer 16 has the rearend thereof positioned against a flange 17 in the heel piece 15 and isaxially centralized in the body member 14 by an O ring 18 restingagainst a ring 19 positioned around the inner periphery of the bodymember. The opposite outer end portion of the transducer 16 is spacedfrom the bore in body member 14 by an elastomer tube 20.

The tubular transducer 16 consists of one of the well known syntheticceramics, such as barium titanate, and the bore and the outside surfaceare independently coated with metal, thus providing a capacitivereactance load.

The water supply tubing 3 is connected to a nipple 21 in the heel piecewhich has a bore 22 therethrough for conducting pressurized water to thecoupling of the tool. The electrical conductors 3 and 4 are secured toan external contact spring 23 and an internal spring 24, respectively,as shown, for energizing thetransducer. The inner end of the nipple 21is threaded to a plastic tube 25 and sealed thereto with a spacer 26 andan 0" ring 27. The tube 27 has a bore 28 therethrough connecting thebore 22. An additional-0" ring 29 aligns the tube 25 and a smaller 0ring 30 is secured in the outer end of the tube 25 to seal a portion ofthe coupling, to be hereinafter described.

Referring to FIG. 4, one of a particular form of tool 31 isprovided'with a cylindrical coupling member 32 which includes anintegral coaxial flange 33 and stem 34. A coupling member includes acoaxial bore 35 which extends through the entire shank of the tool andexits into a channel 36 in the tip portion of the tool. A generallycylindrical guard 37 has external threads at one end thereof forengaging internal like threads in the body for retaining the tool bymeans of the coupling thereon.

Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the circular planar face of thecoupling member 32 is urged against the outer end of the transducer 16by a coil spring 38 bearing against flange 33 with alignment washers 39and 40 on each side thereof with the outer washer bearing against ashoulder 41 in the bore of the guard 37. An elastomer grommet 41 isretained in the end of the guard 37, which provides sealed but freereciprocation of the shank of the tool 31 through the guard 37 It is nowapparent that when the coupling is positioned against the end of thetransducer, as shown in FIG. 3, and the guard 37 threaded into the bodymember 14, the tension of the coupling against the transducer may bevaried corresponding to the desired ultrasonic amplitude ofreciprocation of the tool when the handpiece is operated.

It is also apparent from FIGS. 2 and 5 that the pressurized watersupplied by tubing 3 will flow through nipple 21, plastic tube 25 andthrough stem 34 and into the bore 42 of the tool, which water will beguided by channel 36 directly to the work area of the point of the tool.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is of great importance that the outer end of thetransducer 16 and the mating face of the coupling member 32 be preciselyflat and in overall contact to prevent erratic operation of the deviceor possible fracture of the ceramic transducer and to this end thefollowing alternate construction is shown in FIG. 5, which shows thesame coupling member 32 having a soft metal washer 43 positioned betweenthe end of the transducer 16 and the face of the coupling member, and afurther alternate by replacing the spring 38 with a resilient plasticwasher 44, such as Teflon or nylon. Thus, if the metal washer 43 is madefrom zinc, copper, or other soft metal of uniform thickness, the precisemachining of the end of the transducer and the face of the couplingmember is avoided. Furthermore, the replacement of the spring 38 by aresilient plastic washer 44 eliminates the need for the more tediousadjustment of the spring urged coupling. I

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a desirable tip R for the tool 31 having agenerally V shape angled to the right for treatment of the lower rightand upper left teeth of a patient.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the same style tip L as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7except angled to treat the left lower and right upper teeth of apatient.

In operation, one of several tools, such as the one shown in theflgures,is secured in the hand-piece by threading the guard 37 therein andenergizing the ultrasonic generator by connection to a source of powerand a source of pressurized water and then by moving the switch 10 tothe on position, the tool and the tip thereof will reciprocate at anultrasonic frequency under the control of knob 11 and a desired amountof water will flow by the adjustment of a well known valve means, notshown.

It is to be understood that certain modifications in construction areintended to come within the scope and teachings of the abovespecification.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An ultrasonic dental hand-piece comprising a means forming anelongated dielectric handle having a bore therethrough with the outerportion of said bore having a predetermined thread therein,

a tubular ultrasonic transducer having inner and outer electrodescoaxially positioned in said bore and against a support means fixed inthe rear end portion of said handle having a coaxial hole therethroughwith the outer end thereof adapted for connection to a flexible waterconducting hose,

a pair of electric terminals connected to said electrodes of saidtransducer,

a pair of flexible electric conductors positioned through the rearportion of said handle connected to said terminals,

a dental tool with the rear end thereof terminating in a coaxialcoupling means having a coaxial flange spaced from a coaxial transverseend surface normal the axis of said coupling means with a waterconducting bore through said coupling means and said tool terminating inan orifice in the outer end portion of said tool,

. said tool positioned in the outer end of said handpiece with said endsurface of said coupling means positioned directly against the planarfront end of said transducer,

a detachable tubular guard member loosely retained on said tool andhaving threads for mating engagement with the said threads in the outerend of said bore with said guard member projecting outward therefrom, v

an elastomer washer of predetermined resilience positioned between thefront surface of said flange and the rear surface of said guard memberwhen the latter is threaded into the said outer end of said bore forurging and holding said coupling means against the front end of saidtransducer with predetermined pressure whereby said tool will belongitudinally oscillated by said transducer at an ultrasonic frequencywhen said conductors are energized by electric ultrasonic energy ofpredetermined magnitude and frequency and whereby pressurized waterconnected to said hose will flow through said support means and saidtransducer and said tool and be projected from said orifice.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 whereby a washer of relativelysoft metal material is positioned between the outer surface of saidflange and the end surface of said transducer for compressiveconformation over small surface irregularities and for providing a watersealed area of contact between said coupling and said transducer whenthe latter is energized without an appreciable loss of energytransmitted to said tool.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein the said elastomer washeris replaced by a metal coiled compression spring of predeterminedresilience for guiding and urging said coupling against said transducerwhen said guard is threaded a predetermined axial distance into saidbore of said handle.

4. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said tool has a taperedarcuate end portion which communicates with said water conducting bore.

5. The construction recited in claim I wherein said tool has anelongated shank which is retained by said detachable tubular guardmember, whereby said tool can be quickly replaced when said guard memberis unthreaded from said bore.

1. An ultrasonic dental hand-piece comprising a means forming anelongated dielectric handle having a bore therethrough with the outerportion of said bore having a predetermined thread therein, a tubularultrasonic transducer having inner and outer electrodes coaxiallypositioned in said bore and against a support means fixed in the rearend portion of said handle having a coaxial hole therethrough with theouter end thereof adapted for connection to a flexible water conductinghose, a pair of electric terminals connected to said electrodes of saidtransducer, a pair of flexible electric conductors positioned throughthe rear portion of said handle connected to said terminals, a dentaltool with the rear end thereof terminating in a coaxial coupling meanshaving a coaxial flange spaced from a coaxial transverse end surfacenormal the axis of said coupling means with a water conducting borethrough said coupling means and said tool terminating in an orifice inthe outer end portion of said tool, said tool positioned in the outerend of said hand-piece with said end surface of said coupling meanspositioned directly against the planar front end of said transducer, adetachable tubular guard member loosely retained on said tool and havingthreads for mating engagement with the said threads in the outer end ofsaid bore with said guard member projecting outward therefrom, anelastomer washer of predetermined resilience positioned between thefront surface of said flange and the rear surface of said guard memberwhen the latter is threaded into the said outer end of said bore forurging and holding said coupling means against the front end of saidtransducer with predetermined pressure whereby said tool will belongitudinally oscillated by said transducer at an ultrasonic frequencywhen said conductors are energized by electric ultrasonic energy ofpredetermined magnitude and frequency and whereby pressurized waterconnected to said hose will flow through said support means and saidtransducer and said tool and be projected from said orifice.
 1. Anultrasonic dental hand-piece comprising a means forming an elongateddielectric handle having a bore therethrough with the outer portion ofsaid bore having a predetermined thread therein, a tubular ultrasonictransducer having inner and outer electrodes coaxially positioned insaid bore and against a support means fixed in the rear end portion ofsaid handle having a coaxial hole therethrough with the outer endthereof adapted for connection to a flexible water conducting hose, apair of electric terminals connected to said electrodes of saidtransducer, a pair of flexible electric conductors positioned throughthe rear portion of said handle connected to said terminals, a dentaltool with the rear end thereof terminating in a coaxial coupling meanshaving a coaxial flange spaced from a coaxial transverse end surfacenormal the axis of said coupling means with a water conducting borethrough said coupling means and said tool terminating in an orifice inthe outer end portion of said tool, said tool positioned in the outerend of said hand-piece with said end surface of said coupling meanspositioned directly against the planar front end of said transducer, adetachable tubular guard member loosely retained on said tool and havingthreads for mating engagement with the said threads in the outer end ofsaid bore with said guard member projecting outward therefrom, anelastomer washer of predetermined resilience positioned between thefront surface of said flange and the rear surface of said guard memberwhen the latter is threaded into the said outer end of said bore forurging and holding said coupling means against the front end of saidtransducer with predetermined pressure whereby said tool will belongitudinally oscillated by said transducer at an ultrasonic frequencywhen said conductors are energized by electric ultrasonic energy ofpredetermined magnitude and frequency and whereby pressurized waterconnected to said hose will flow through said support means and saidtransducer and said tool and be projected from said orifice.
 2. Theconstruction recited in claim 1 whereby a washer of relatively softmetal material is positioned between the outer surface of said flangeand the end surface of said transducer for compressive conformation oversmall surface irregularities and for providing a water sealed area ofcontact between said coupling and said transducer when the latter isenergized without an appreciable loss of energy transmitted to saidtool.
 3. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein the said elastomerwasher is replaced by a metal coiled compression spring of predeterminedresilience for guiding and urging said coupling against saId transducerwhen said guard is threaded a predetermined axial distance into saidbore of said handle.
 4. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein saidtool has a tapered arcuate end portion which communicates with saidwater conducting bore.